US Congress Supports Research Budget Increase

Two bipartisan letters asking for an increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health over the currently allotted amount in the federal budget, which stays flat for the next 2 years, is gaining a number of signatures in Congress, reported Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. One letter states that “NIH must be fully funded if we want to discover the next medical breakthroughs in America and not import them from China or India.” That letter, circulated in the House, asks for a 4 percent increase over 2012 funding levels to $32 billion, and has gotten 153 signatures from House representatives. The other one, which is being passed around the Senate, has also gotten strong support, receiving a “record high” 47 signatures, reported GEN, but does not ask mention a specific increase, simply pleading for a “strong commitment to funding” the agency.

While work on the 2013 budget is scheduled to begin it the next few weeks, final decision is unlikely to be reached until after the November elections.